RECLAMATION (SUNGEI SEMBAWANG)

4.40 p.m.

The Minister for Law and National Development (Mr E. W. Barker): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move the motion+ standing in my name as it appears on the Order Paper.

• The motion, standing in the name of the Minister for Law and National Development, reads as follows:

That this Parliament, in accordance with section 4 of the Foreshores Act (Chapter 270), approves the reclamation by Government of those portions of the foreshore and seabed off Sungei Sembawang containing a total area of approximately 4.71 acres as shown coloured yellow, red and green respectively on the plan marked "LAND OFFICE RECLAMATION PLAN NO. 7/72", which is deposited in the Land Office, Singapore, and the dredging of approximately 3.16 acres of the seabed off Sungei Sembawang shown coloured and hatched in blue on the same plan.

Sir, the Sembawang Shipyard (Private) Limited, a corporation set up by Government to run the former Naval Dockyards at Sembawang as a ship-repairing centre, is presently occupying the land and buildings within the area shown edged red on the plan marked "LAND OFFICE RECLAMATION PLAN NO. 7/72" (a copy of which is displayed in the Library of this House for the information of hon. Members), on a 60-year lease.

As part of its expansion scheme, the Shipyard proposes to construct a new dry dock at Sungei Sembawang parallel to the existing King George VI Dock at an estimated cost of $31.64 million to be completed by the end of 1974. The floor area of the proposed drydock will be about 6.15 acres, comprising nearly three acres of the existing land to be excavated (coloured blue on the plan) and another 3.16 acres of the seabed to be dredged (coloured and hatched blue). The foreshore and seabed near the proposed drydock, i.e, the portions shown coloured yellow (about 2.36 acres), coloured pink (about 1.59 acres) and coloured green about 0.76 acre), will be reclaimed. Earth obtained from the excavation of the area shown coloured blue on the plan will be used as fill for the proposed reclamations.

The dredging and reclamation works will be undertaken by the Sembawang Shipyard as agent of the Government. On completion, the drydock and the adjoining reclaimed area will be proclaimed as State land and alienated to the Shipyard on terms and conditions to be agreed with the Land Office.

Although the total area of the foreshore and seabed to be reclaimed is only 4.71 acres, approval of this House under section 4 of the Foreshores Act is necessary since the project also involves the dredging of some 3.16 acres of the seabed.

Sir, I beg to move.

Question put, and agreed to.

Resolved,

That this Parliament, in accordance with section 4 of the Foreshores Act (Chapter 270), approves the reclamation by Government of those portions of the foreshore and seabed off Sungei Sembawang containing a total area of approximately 4.71 acres as shown coloured yellow, red and green respectively on the plan marked "LAND OFFICE RECLAMATION PLAN NO. 7/72", which is deposited in the Land Office, Singapore, and the dredging of approximately 3.16 acres of the seabed off Sungei Sembawang shown coloured and hatched in blue on the same plan.